Effective 9 March 2026, the immigration median wage will rise to NZD $35.00 per hour, reflecting June 2025 statistics. This change flows through to a number of AEWV-related and family visa settings.
While the general median wage requirement for AEWVs was removed in March 2025, several immigration thresholds remain tied to the median wage and will update automatically from 9 March. These include Green List pay requirements, exemptions from advertising and minimum skills requirements (for roles paying at least twice the median wage), maximum five-year stay provisions for certain lower-skilled roles (those paying at least 1.5 times the median wage), and income thresholds for partner and dependent child support.
The partner and dependent income thresholds are increasing as follows:
Skill level 1–3 partner support: NZD $26.85 → $28.00 per hour
Skill level 4–5 partner support: NZD $50.34 → $52.50 per hour
Green List partner support: NZD $33.56 → $35.00 per hour
Wage thresholds for skilled residence pathways, including SMC, Green List, and Transport WTR, will also rise in line with the updated median wage. Some applicants may need to step up to a higher pay point to maintain eligibility. Teachers, for instance, must now be on Step 5 of the pay scale rather than the previous Step 4.
As per past changes to the median wage, if an employee remains in the same role, their wage does not need to be increased. If they apply for a new position, they need to meet the new median wage to retain their pathway to residency. They will also need to meet the current median wage at the time they apply for residency.
Changes to sponsorship income thresholds for the Parent Category and Parent Boost Visitor Visa will be announced separately and are expected to take effect later in 2026
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